TALLADEGA, AL – Hellmann’s® mayonnaise, which has been a staple in American kitchens for generations, and NASCAR’s Most Competitive Track – Talladega Superspeedway – announced today that Sunday’s (Oct. 23) much anticipated elimination race in the 2016 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup will now be known as the Hellmann’s 500.
Hellmann’s®, a brand of Unilever, has been involved in the sport of NASCAR since 2004 and has a reputation for delivering fans with quality, delicious products. In addition to the new Talladega Superspeedway (TSS) partnership, the Hellmann’s brand has a long-time relationship with six-time TSS winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and JR Motorsports. NASCAR fans have embraced many of the attributes that resonate with the Hellmann’s family of products – plain and simple, they are the real deal. Hellmann’s (hellmanns.com) flagship product, Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise, is the best-selling mayonnaise in the United States.
“In honor of our long-standing partnership with NASCAR, Hellmann’s is thrilled to show our dedication to the race car community by becoming the exclusive, title sponsor of the Talladega race,” said Hellmann’s Marketing Director Russel Lilly. “We’ve been a staple on the speedway for years, getting to know Dale Jr. and establishing his No. 88 Hellmann’s Chevrolet as the car to beat. Whether on the track or cheering from the stands, Hellmann’s is a life-time fan of the sport of racing and we’re honored to be a part of such an iconic race.”
“Hellmann’s is an incredible nationally known product that fits in perfectly with our facility and the fans who attend the events here,” said Talladega Superspeedway Chairman Grant Lynch. “We have an incredible fan base who are here all week and love to cook up a variety of tasty dishes to eat while they are enjoying the best racing in the world. Take a walk on our property and you will see campers and tailgaters using a host of Hellmann’s spreads. We are glad to welcome them to our Talladega family with the Hellmann’s 500.”
Sunday’s Hellmann’s 500 at the mammoth 2.66-mile, 33-degree banked layout, will be the pivotal third and final race in the Round of 12 in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. When the checkered flag falls in the pressure-packed event, the field of title contenders will be reduced from 12 drivers to eight.
While he won’t be competing in the Hellmann’s 500, Earnhardt Jr. will be at Talladega and will be interacting with fans as part of the Fan Question & Answer session at the start-finish line as part of the track’s “Pre-Race Pit Pass Upgrade”.
Weekend preparations for the Hellmann’s 500 get underway Friday (Oct. 21) with two different practice sessions (1:00-1:55 p.m. CDT & 3:30-4:25 p.m. CDT). Foodland/Food Giant Qualifying, which will determine the starting lineup for the Hellmann’s 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, is set for Saturday (Oct. 22) at 3:00 p.m. CDT. A ticket to the Hellmann’s 500 also gets fans into the traditional Saturday Night Infield Concert, which will feature country star Jerrod Niemann, Tim Dugger and DJ Michaelis. The Hellmann’s 500 is set for a 1:00 p.m. (CDT) start Sunday (Oct. 23).
About Unilever® United States, Inc.
Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Food, Home Care, Personal Care and Refreshment products with sales in more than 190 countries and reaching 2 billion consumers a day. In the United States, the portfolio includes brand icons such as Axe, Ben & Jerry’s, Breyers, Caress, Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy, Country Crock, Degree, Dollar Shave Club, Dove, Fruttare, Good Humor, Hellmann’s, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!, Klondike, Knorr, Lever 2000, Lipton, Magnum, Nexxus, Noxzema, Pond’s, Popsicle, Promise, Q-tips, Simple, St. Ives, Suave, Talenti Gelato & Sorbetto, TIGI, TONI&GUY, TRESemmé and Vaseline. All of the preceding brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Unilever Group of Companies.
Unilever employs approximately 8,000 people in the United States – generating more than $8.5 billion in sales in 2015.
The Unilever Sustainable Living Plan commits to:
- Helping more than a billion people take action to improve their health and well-being by 2020.
- Halving the environmental impact of our products by 2030.
- Enhancing the livelihoods of millions of people by 2020.
Unilever ranked number one in its sector on the 2016 Dow Jones Sustainability Index.
For more information on Unilever U.S. and its brands visit: www.unileverusa.com
To connect with Unilever U.S. via Facebook visit: www.facebook.com/unileverusa
To connect with Unilever U.S. via Twitter follow: @unileverusa
About Talladega Superspeedway
NASCAR speeds back into action at Talladega Superspeedway Oct. 21-23 for double elimination Chase weekend. Sunday’s Hellmann’s 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event is the Round of 12 elimination race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup where the title contenders will be reduced from 12 to eight at the checkered flag. Saturdays’ fred’s 250 Powered by Coca-Cola is the third and final race in the Round of 8 for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase in which only six competitors will advance for the championship at the event’s conclusion. NASCAR’s Most Competitive Track (record 88 lead changes in 188 laps), with the circuit’s steepest banking (33 degrees) and longest distance (2.66 miles), is the most fun and fan-friendly, offering up hundreds of acres of free camping, amazing kids’ ticket prices and special offers for military members and college students. Talladega Superspeedway is NASCAR’s “Party Capital” thanks to the track’s infamous infield, which features the traditional Saturday Night concert and the world-renowned Talladega Blvd, home of the Friday evening “Big One on the Blvd” party. The historic venue features the most comfortable seats in motorsports, large video viewing boards lining the frontstretch and endless activities for fans throughout its event weekends. Log on to www.talladegasuperspeedway.
